Milk bottle holder and the like



Feb. 23, 1937. CHALIFQUX 2,071,498

MILK BOTTLE HOLDER AND THE LIKE Filed 00 24, 1955 /3 TOE/v5) Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES MILK BOTTLE HOLDER, AND THE ATENT OFFICE LIKE 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a door locker for milk bottles and other articles.

An object ofmy invention is to provide a container or receptacle adapted to be secured at a door of ones home and to receive milk bottles and other articles, so that these may be safe from theft and protected from dirt until such time as the householder brings the same into the house.

Another object is to so build the device that the closure is normally unlocked to permit of the milkman or other person making delivery of the article, to deposit the article into the device without the necessity of unlocking the same, the

closure locking automatically after the bottle or other article has been deposited within the device.

Another object is to build the device to as simple a construction as possible by leaving, for instance, the rear side open whereby access may be gained into the device by the householder without having to open any closure other than the house door.

Another object is to attach the device to the door in a simple but safe manner whereby, when desired, it may be lifted bodily and taken into the house.

Other objects will appear as the specification is read in the light of the drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the various figures, I V I Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic view ilustrating the application of my device, the house door shown being now open to gain access into the device;

Figure 2 is a plan cross section of the device;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross section on line 44 in Figure 2.

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspective views respectively of the brackets securing the device to the door frame.

Referring now by numerals to the drawing, ID indicates my device, which comprises essentially a container, preferably partly semi-circular in cross section, open at the rear and provided with a front opening which is closed by a (preferably automatically closing) revolving door; and a platform to receive the milk bottles or other articles to be deposited in the device, which platform, when loaded, operates to automatically lock the door of the device, after the door has been closed.

As shown, the container proper II is formed with a semi-circular front wall I2 having an opening I3, side walls I4, a top wall I5, and a bottom wall I6. The container is thus open at the rear as at IT, whereby access may be gained into the container from the rear. Within the container is the revolvable door I8 curved to substantially the inside radius of the curved front wall I2, and adapted to effectively close the opening I3. This door or closure I8 has upper and lower bent-in portions I9 spaced to lie adjacent the top and bottom. walls I5 and I6, respectively, of the container, and extending to and beyond the centre of the semi-circular front wall I2. These portions are perforated near the inner ends to receive bolts 20 passed through the upper and lower walls I5 and I6, these bolts constituting pivots revolvably mounting the door or closure 58 within the container proper as aforesaid. A sleeve 36 may be provided below the lower bentin portion I9, this sleeve surrounding the bolt 20 and forming a support for the door I8.

Fixed at either end to the door I8, or more particularly to the bent-in portions I9, and to the container proper, respectively, are springs ISA tensioned to normally urge the door to a certain or closed position, the closed position of the door being determined by the engagement of a stop 20A (which may form the door opening means or knob) with the container proper, at one side of the opening I3. The springs will thus yieldingly resist an opening movement of the door, while when released, they will act to automatically close the door.

Within the container proper is the platform. 23 which receives the milk bottles or other articles as aforesaid. This platform may take the form of a semi-circle, and it is pivotally mounted to the container as with a suitable hinge 24. Mounted below the platform is a tensioned spring 25, one end being fixed to the container, while the other, or free end, loosely engages the lower face of the platform. This spring urges the free end of the platform in an upwardly direction. The tension in this spring is such that it will be overcome by the weight of the platform when loaded. The upward swinging movement of the platform under the action of the spring 25 is determined by a member or stop 25 which is fixed to the container. Fixed to the underside of the platform is a pin 21 positioned to ride on the lower bent-in portion I9 of the door I8 when the same is open or partly open, the pin clearing this portion to lie and be substantially engaged by one edge of the bent-in portion when the door is closed. Thus, the pin serves as a means of locking the door in its closed position when a bottle or other article has been deposited upon the platform. Upon the removal of the article, the plat form rises under the action of the spring 25, the pin 21 clears the edge of the platform or bent-in portion I9, and permits of the door or closure 18 being opened by the knob 29.

The device may be secured to the door frame, or more particularly to the stile nearest the house door hinges, as by suitable brackets as shown. A bracket member 38 is secured to the stile as with, say screws, while a co-operating bracket member 3! is secured to one side Wall of the container. The member 30 is formed at the bottom with a turned-up hook or lug 32, and intermediate its length, with a bent-out portion 33. The bracket 3! is formed with laterally turned lugs or prongs 34 and 35 adapted to fit between the turned-up lug 32 and the main body of the member 30, and into the bent portion or keeper 33 formed on the member 38, respectively. The co-operating or looking brackets 30 and 3| are unlocked, and can only be so unlocked by moving the member 3| in one direction, that is, in a rearwardly direction or in the direction of the house door. Therefore, by seeming the member 30 to the door stile which is nearest the house door hinges, and placing the same so that the rear of the container proper is almost in contact with the house door when closed, it follows that the device cannot be removed until the house door is fully opened. Similarly, the device can only be placed into operative position by fully opening the house door.

Operatio1z.When the device is empty, the platform 23 is in its raised position, engaging the hook 26. The pin 27 is now raised above the level of the lower bent-in portion l9, so that the door or closure I8 is now free to open. When it is desired to deposit a milk bottle or other article within the container, the person effecting delivery opens the closure by means of the knob 20, deposits the article and then releases the closure. The platform will now be lowered under the weight of the bottle or article, the pin 2'! bearing upon the lower bent-in portion l9. As the door is released, the same will automatically swing back into its normal or closed position under the action of the springs ISA, if the resiliency thereof is sufficient; or in any event, the door may be closed by the knob 20. Upon the door reaching its closed position, the platform will descend and thereby bring the pin 21 adjacent one edge of the bent-in portion I9 and will now act as a lock against the opening movement of the door. When the householder desires to possess himself of the bottle or other article, he opens the house door and thus gains access into the container through the rear opening l'l. After the article has been removed from the platform, the same lifts automatically under the action of the spring 25, and the door or closure I8 is again free to be opened.

What I claim is:-

1. In a locker for milk bottles and other articles, a container having spaced openings, a closure for one of said openings having bent-in portions pivotably mounted to said containers, spring means urging said closure to its closed position, a hinged platform for the bottles within said container, spring means urging said platform to a normally raised position, means determining the raised position of said platform, and means on said platform co-operating with one of said bentin portions of said closure and locking the same when in its closed position when said platform is lowered by the weight of the bottles.

2. In a locker for milk bottles and other articles, a container having a curved wall formed with an opening, a curved closure within said container for closing the opening and having bent-in portions pivotally mounted to said container, spring means urging said closure to its closed position, a hinged platform within said container for the bottles, spring means urging said platform to a normally raised position, means determining the raised position of said platform, and means on said platform cooperating with one of said bent-in portions of said closure and locking the same in its closed position when said platform is lowered by the weight of the bottles.

3. In a locker for milk bottles and other articles, a container having a curved wall formed with an opening, a curved closure within said container for closing the opening and having bent-in portions pivotally mounted to said container, means urging said closure to its closed position, a hinged platform within said container for the bottles, means urging said platform to a normally raised position, means determining the raised position of said platform, and means on said platform co-operating with one of said bentin portions of said closure and locking the same in its closed position when said platform is lowered by the weight of said bottles.

ALPHONSE CHALIFOUX. 

